TTYS stands for “Talk To You Soon.” It is used in texting and social media to close a conversation with warmth and a specific promise not just that you will talk again eventually but that the next conversation is not far off. When someone sends TTYS they are doing more than saying goodbye. They are…

JK stands for “Just Kidding.” It is used in texting and social media to signal that what was just said was not meant seriously — a quick retraction that transforms a statement from something that might land heavily into something lighter and more playful. When someone sends JK they are letting the other person know…

IKR stands for “I Know Right.” It is used in texting and social media to express enthusiastic, energized agreement with something someone just said — a response that does more than confirm you share the same view. It validates, amplifies, and meets the other person’s statement with the particular electric recognition of two people who…

LFG stands for “Let’s F*ing Go.”** It is used in texting and social media to express explosive enthusiasm, intense hype, or pure electrified excitement about something that is about to happen, just happened, or is being proposed. When someone sends LFG they are not calmly agreeing to something. They are erupting with the specific energy…

AFK stands for “Away From Keyboard.” It is used in texting, gaming, and social media to let someone know you are temporarily stepping away from your device and will not be available to respond for a short period. When someone sends AFK they are being courteous — letting the people they are in contact with…

MK stands for “Mmm Okay.” It is used in texting and social media to express a response that is somewhere between casual agreement and mild skepticism — an acknowledgment that is slightly more nuanced than a plain okay but slightly less committed than a genuine yes. When someone sends MK they are communicating that they…

IGHT stands for “Alright.” It is used in texting and social media as a casual, low-effort way of expressing agreement, acknowledgment, or acceptance — a compressed version of “alright” that fits the speed and rhythm of informal digital conversation. When someone sends IGHT they are communicating that they are fine with something, that they have…

GG stands for “Good Game.” It is used in texting, gaming, and social media to acknowledge the end of a game, competition, or challenging situation with sportsmanship and respect — a concise way of recognizing that something was well-played, hard-fought, or simply over. When someone sends GG they are offering a gesture of acknowledgement that…

HBU stands for “How About You.” It is used in texting and social media to turn a conversation back toward the other person — to invite them to share their own answer, experience, opinion, or situation after the sender has already shared theirs. When someone sends HBU they are not just asking a question. They…

GN stands for “Good Night.” It is used in texting and social media to close a late-night conversation, wish someone well as they go to sleep, or signal the end of the day’s communication in a warm and friendly way. When someone sends GN they are not just ending a conversation — they are doing…